Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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432. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the value of individual contracts for school buses (details supplied) in each county; if there are large differences from county to county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16280/18]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.

Currently over 116,000 children, including almost 12,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported in over 4,500 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually at a total cost of almost €190 million in 2017.

Bus Éireann is obliged to tender all works, goods and services in line with the European Directives on public procurement, which includes school transport services performed by contractors under the School Transport Scheme.

The value of Contracts for school buses for each county is dependent on a number of factors such as the number of eligible children, size of vehicle and length of the journey.

As part of the procurement process, the rate for each Contract is evaluated through a defined tender process where the Contractor establishes the rate, in line with prevailing market conditions.

The information in relation to individual contracts is commercially sensitive, however, the current procurement process complies with all guidelines associated with EU directives and is subject to Independent audit.